Elsie Lange
The wheels on the bus go round and round, but now their engines go buzz with the first three electric buses hitting the road in Sunbury.
The buses are part of the state government’s push towards a more sustainable Melbourne bus fleet, through its Zero Emissions Bus (ZEB) Trial.
Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll said the government’s $20 million ZEB Trial will inform how 4000 diesel buses in the state’s public fleet, including 2200 in regional Victoria, will transition to zero emissions.
“We’re investing in greener technologies, supporting local manufacturing and providing passengers with quieter and more comfortable journeys as we drive down pollution and remove noisy diesel buses from our public network for good,” Mr Carroll said.
The three electric buses in Sunbury will be introduced to existing routes in and around the town by bus operator Donric – the first buses in Victoria to use solid-state Lithium Metal Polymer batteries rather than lithium-ion batteries used in other electric vehicles.
The government said by 2025, all new buses on Victoria’s public transport routes will be zero emissions.
“Donric is one of six operators across Victoria taking part in the three-year ZEB Trial which will see 52 zero emission buses – 50 electric and two hydrogen – rolled out across Melbourne, Traralgon and Seymour,” the government said.
Sunbury MP Josh Bull launched the new buses on Thursday, October 6, and said he was pleased they had “hit the ground running”.
“Buses are a critical link in Sunbury’s public transport network, so having these greener, cleaner and quieter buses on our roads is going to make a big difference as the trial progresses,” Mr Bull said.
The government said data collected during the trial will provide practical information, such as how zero emission buses perform and the energy and charging requirements for different types of routes.
“It will also give insights into how the buses can improve financial and environmental sustainability,” the government said.
